Congestion in Bidborough Street

• AFTER the Bidborough Works licence hearing on Thursday night, residents of Queen Alexandra Mansions and other local organisations were sadly not surprised by the decision of Camden licensing to allow a full framework hours licence for the town hall second and third floors for alcohol sales and regulated entertainment.

Despite at least 160 local objections, the opposition of our three local councillors, the plans showing very limited office accommodation and the unsuitability of Bidborough Street to accommodate the quantity of traffic and visitors, the application was granted, with 72 “conditions”.

Under the guise of a co-working office space, it appears to us that this designated private office part of the town hall will now become part of the Camden Centre entertainment complex.

Publicity describes the Il Bottaccio town hall as “events venue, alongside contemporary co-working spaces that blend social and business amenities”.

We wonder why “regulated entertainment” is needed for co-working offices with the Camden Centre facilities adjacent. Are four bar/cafés and four kitchens really necessary in these “offices”?

Local residents are horrified about the likely effects of changing the use of the offices to evening drinking and socialising. And we imagine that many people in Camden will also be unhappy about the conversion of a large part of the historic town hall into a members’ co-working club.

However, information released to us under a freedom of information request, showed that discussions to this end between Eventhia, the lessees of the Camden Centre, and Camden officers, had been under way for five years or more, notably discussing two separate licences and leases, to reduce public opposition.

With an annual rent of £3.5million for the space, together with the promise by Eventhia/Il Bottaccio to spend millions of pounds on the fit-out, we fear that keeping to the conditions and avoiding disruption to the local residents, will be side-lined compared to the need to generate income and profit.

Residents will be scrutinising the operation of the town hall and calling out any violation of the conditions.

We well understand the narrow jurisdiction of the licensing process which does not take into account many relevant issues, such as planning use class and the experience and ability of the licensee.

We are in further talks with the council to explore our concerns and the potential risks for Camden Council.

SIMON BURTON
Director QAM Ltd